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First Nations arts and culture commission
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During the year, our support for First Nations arts and culture
helped to enable the world premiere of Wundig wer Wilura – the new Wesfarmers
Arts musical theatre commission from award-winning songwriters and
storytellers, Gina Williams AM and Guy Ghouse.
Wundig brings Noongar language, history and culture to the stage
in an acclaimed follow-up to the duo’s first opera collaboration, Koolbardi wer
Wardong commissioned by Wesfarmers Arts in 2020.
Six-time winners of the Indigenous Act of the Year at the West
Australian Music Industry Awards, Williams and Ghouse use their music and performances
to highlight the Noongar language of the southern corner of Western Australia.
Williams composed Wundig wer Wilura with collaborator Ghouse, in
consultation with Elders on Ballardong Country. Through the opera, Williams
wanted to tell a story she grew up with – one of a young man and young woman
who are promised to other people but fall in love and decide to elope, causing
a Shakespearean conflict between their family groups.
Wundig is a story of forbidden love and feuding families that
has endured for thousands of years, passed down by generations of Ballardong
Elders.
Opening in February at His Majesty’s Theatre as the centrepiece
of the 2024 Perth Festival, Wundig starred an all-First Nations cast performing
under the baton of viola player, composer and conductor Aaron Wyatt, a Noongar
man from Western Australia recognised as the first Australian First Nations
person to conduct a major Australian orchestra.
Wesfarmers is Principal Partner of West Australian Opera and a
major partner of Perth Festival.